SEA-LION OF FORSTER. 239 



no reference is made to it, no one can doubt it is a 

 mere copy. 



The Sea- Lion has not so much fore-paws as tins 

 proceeding from the sides of the chest ; they are 

 smooth, of a black colour, without any appearance 

 of fingers, with a mere trace of nails ; they have the 

 shape of roundish tubercles, and are of a horny con- 

 sistency ; they are situated at about one-third from 

 the extremity of the paw, the whole form of which is 

 that of an elongated triangle truncated at its point ; 

 it is quite devoid of hair, and deeply striped on its 

 under surface. The posterior extremities are not 

 very unlike the anterior ; they have the same black 

 skin underneath, and clearly include five very long 

 and flat toes, which are terminated by thin com- 

 pressed membranes which extend beyond their ex- 

 tremities ; the small nails, which are placed at the 

 end of the proper fingers, are of no more important 

 use than to enable the animal to scratch itself. 



The illustrious Cook himself states, that the largest 

 of these animals he met with were not more than 

 twelve or fourteen feet in length, and perhaps eight 

 or ten in circumference: the female is not half so 

 long, and is covered with short hair of an ash colour. 

 He adds " It is not at all dangerous to go among 

 them, for they either fled or lay still. The only 

 danger was in going between them and the sea ; for 

 if they t*ok fright at any thing, they would come 

 down in such numbers, that if you could not get out 

 of their way, you would be run over. When we 

 came suddenly upon them, or waked them out of 



